Electric burglar-alarm protective system for safes.



J. P. WILLIAMS.

ELECTRiC BURGLAR ALARM PROTECTIVE SYSTEM FOR SAFES. APPLICATION FILED MAYZS, 19'4- 1, 181 A20. 4 I Patented May 2, 1916. I

Z9 20 -22 5 24 3 E 47 L L47 [1' 7 58 55 I 59 .18 y ]0 {1 10 43 50 54 52 UNITED STATES PATENT oFrIoE.

JOHN PRITCHARD WILLIAMS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 DUPLEX ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRIC IBC'RGLAR-ALARM PROTECTIVE SYSTEM FOR SAFES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed May 26, 1914. Serial No. 840,976.

adapted to automatically actuate an alarm through electric circuit connections when a person enters within the protected area or tampers .therewith.

The object of my present invention is to provide a simple and improved protective system of the character mentioned, which can be economically installed and which will effectively and positively protect a safe against unauthorized approach by any person antl also against attack by tampering with the protective means or by drilling or other attempts against the same.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved system of the character set forth which will possess advantages in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness, con-' venience. positive operation, e fectiveness, and general efiiciency.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view. partly in section, illustrating the general arrangement and location of my improved protective system with relation to a safe. Fig. 2 is a detail cross-section, on an enlarged scale. taken through the protective floor-plate construction. on 'the line 02-03, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail cross-section, on

. an enlarged scale. taken on the line y-y,

Fig. 1. and illustrating the supplementary pivoted-plate means for protecting the door of the safe. the door plate being shown partly elevated fromnormal position and its operative position being illustrated in dotted lines. Fig. is a detail cross-section, on an enlarged scale. taken on the line 22, Fig. 1. and illustrating the spring circuitcontact means which is operated by the protective door plate. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view. illustrating the circuitconnections between the alarm mechanism and the protective floor plates and hinged protective door plate.

Corresponding parts in all'the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

It will be understood that, while my improved protective system. is especially adapted for the protection of safes which are established in fixed position, it is also adapted for the protection of vaults or any other receptacles or compartments for the storage of valuables and which are located so that the area of approach adjacent thereto can be protected by the improved means for preventing an attack upon the safe or the like without actuating an alarm.

The protective means for the area of approach to the safe, as comprised in the sys-. tem constituting my present invention, comprise floor plates extending over said area in superposed position and separated a suitable distance, said plates being spring controlled and in an electric circuit and having contact means for governing said circuit to actuate an alarm when the upper floor plate is depressed.

The preferred construction of such floorplate protective means, as herein shown, comprises a base-plate member, 1, supported upon the floor base, 3, and covering an area of approach preferably surrounding the safe, 4, which is stationed in desired position, and also comprises a top-plate memher, 2, superposed a suitable distance above the base-plate member 1 and-corresponding in area thereto, said members being retained in relatively separated position by sustaining springs, 5, interposed between the same. The base-plate member 1 is constituted by a bottom plate, 6, resting upon the floor base 3, an upper plate, 7 an insulating sheet, 8, of fiber or other suitable material, interposed between the plates 6 and 7 and a top insulating sheet, 9, extending overtheplate 7. The top-plate member 2 is constituted by. a top plate, 10, forming the top surface of the floor-plate protective means, an under plate, 11, and an insulating sheet, 12, interposed between said plates 10.and 11. The springmeans for sustaining the members 1 and 2 in normally-separated position is constituted by bolts, 14, carried by the plate 10 of the top-plate member 2 and projecting downwardly therefrom and through a guide opening, 15. in the insulating top sheet 9 of the base-plate member 2, said bolts carrying a stop nut, 16, at their lower ends, beneath said sheet 9, and surrounded by the coiled springs 5 interposed between the members 1 and 2. The nut 16 operates in a suitable recess, 17, provided in the base construction, and the bolt and nut and spring are out of contact with any of the plates above'described except the carrying plate 10. It will be understood that, under the foregoing construction, the springs 5 operate to sustain and support the top-plate member 2 in normal position a suitable distance above and away from contact with the base-plate member 1, the stop nuts 16 limiting the relative normal position of said members 1 and 2, and that the top-plate member 2 is depressible against the action of said springs, to establish contact between the members 1 and 2, when a person enters upon the area of approach to the safe which is protected by the floor-plate means. All of said plates as hereinabove described are electrical conductors and are arranged in an electrical circuit as will be hereinafter set forth, and the contact between the members 1 and 2,'for actuation of thealarm when the member 2 is depressed, is constituted, in the preferred construction, by a series of studs, 18, suitably disposed with relation to the area of the top-plate member 2 and projecting downwardly therefrom and insulated from the under plate 11 of the member 2 by blocks, as at 19, of fiber or other suitable material, said studs being adapted to contact with plate-strips, 20, arranged in series 'upon the top surface of the insulating sheet 9 of the base plate member 1, to underlie the operative area of the contact studs 18, and in circuit as hereinafter described.

In the preferred construction at the edge opening between the normally-separated members 1 and 2, the surrounding edge portion of the top plate 10 of the member 2 is turned downwardly, as at 21, and carries a curved extension lip, 22, suitably insulated from the under plate 11 by a strip or block, as at 23, of fiber or other adapted material, and the surrounding edge portion of the up per plate 7 of the base-plate 1 is extended up and around and over the top of the top insulating sheet 9,. as at 24. At the edge' opening between the members 1 and 2, un-

. der the construction just described, upon I depression of the member 2 the extension lip' "22 of the top plate 10 of the member 2 is adapted to contact with the edge-extension 2 10f the upper plate 7 of the member 1, for

the purpose of operating thecircuit to ac-' tuate the alarm, and the 'same result would' ensue-if a metallic instrumentfwere inserted at the edge opening to establishconnection between the extensions 22 and 24:. To fur,- ther protect the edge opening ,against the insertionof a metallic instrument in an attack to damage" the floor-plate'protective bowed inwardly, as at 25, and is pliable or depressible, so that pressure upon the same will spring said lip into contact with a metallicstrip, 26, carried by the insulating strip 23 and in circuit connection with the under plate 11 of the member 2, whereby, said lip 22 and said plate 11 being of different polarity in the circuit connections as hereinafter described, the circuit will be operated to actuate the alarm.

The construction of the'members 1 and 2, as hereinbeforedescribed, is such that an attempt to drill through the floor-plate protective means with a metallic instrument would establish. connection between the plates 10 and 11 of the member 2 or between the plates 6 and 7 of the member 1, which plates are relatively of opposite polarities in the circuit arrangements as hereinafter set for, and thus operate the circuit to actuate the alarm.

In the installation of my improved electric protective system under initial conditions, the floor-plate protective means constituted by the members 1 and 2 is preferably seated in a recess, 27, provided in the floor structure 3, as herein shown, so that the top plate 10 of the member 2'is flush with the normal floor surface; but in conditionsof installation with respect to safes and floors positioned under established conditions, the floor-plate protective means may be simply arranged as a mat upon the normal floor surface and extending over the area of approach to the safe, as will be readily understood. The safe itself usually rests upon the floor structure 3 and to accommodate this condition the floor-plate protective means is provided with suitable openings or cut-away portions, as at 28, through which the standards or supports of the safe project.-

I have herein illustrated one preferred circuit arrangement of the various plates as comprised in'.the members of the floorplate protective means, though it will be understood that any suitable arrangement of circuits may be employed, and thatthe mechanism is adapted to operate on either open orclosed circuits or on a combination of both open and closed circuits. The opencircuitarrangement herein shown consists of a positive conductor, 29, extending from extending from the under plate 11 of the member 2 to the coil of an automatic drop, 32, and through the contact, 33, and pivoted drop-arm,3 1, and frame, 35,-of said drop,

to-thenegative side of the battery 30. In like, manner, a positive conductor, 36, extends from theunder plate 6 of the member 1, and a negative conductor, 37, extends fromthe upper plate 7 of the member 1,

the. circuit connection being preferably effected by carrying the positive wireor conductor 36 to a connection with the Wire 29, and carrying the negative Wire or conductor 37' to a connection with the wire 31. Under the circuit arrangements as-just described, if contact is established between the plates 10 and 11 of the member 2 or between the plates 6 and 7 of the member 1, by drilling or similar attack, or between the extension lip 22 of the plate 10 of the member 2 and the edge-extension 24c of the plate 7 of the member 1, by depression of the member 2, the circuit through the battery 30 will be closed. In said circuit arrangements, it will be noted that the contact studs 18 carried by the top plate 10 of the member 2 are in circuit with the positive side of the battery through said plate 10, and that the contact strips 20 carriedby the insulating sheet 9 of the member 1 are in circuit with the negative side of the battery-through a wire or conductor, 38,'extending to a connection with the wire 37, and that therefore the depression of the member 2 to bring the studs 18 in contact with the strips 20 will close the circuit.

The closing of the circuit, through any of the operative actions as just above described, will energize the magnet of the automatic drop 32 and cause the action of the armature thereof to release the pivoted arm 3-1: of the drop from the contact 33 and to a contact, 39, thus opening the circuit through the drop and closing a branch alarm circuit to actuate the alarm continuously until the automatic drop is re-set. 1 Said normallyopen branch alarm circuit, when thus closed, extends as follows: from the positive side of the battery 30 through the wire 29 and through a conductor or wire, atO, in connectiontherewith and extending to a magneto bell device or other alarm means, as at 41, and through said alarm device and a conductor or wire, 42, extending to the contact 39, and from thence through the drop-arm 34 and frame 35 of the automatic drop 32, and the wire 31 to the negative side of the battery 30.

The wires of the normally-open circuit, which extend between the plate conductors of the members of the floor-plate protective means and the battery and automatic drop, are preferably carried in a cable, under suitably insulated conditions. and housed in protecting tubes, 43. which may extend, under some preferred circumstances of installation, through the walls, as illustrated at 44 in Fig. 1, of the room or compartment within which the safe is located. Said cables are extended or carried to any suit able point at which it is desired to locate the alarm; for instance, to an adjoining room or compartment or to a central station. The circuit batteries and automatic drop and branch alarm circuit, as above described, are preferably located at the alarm station and inclosed within a suitable box or casing or other-protective means, as illustrated at 45. The general arrangement of the circuit wires as above indicated protects them against cutting or similar ataccess to the safe without actuating the alarm, and to throw the circuit into operative status during periods'when it is desired to protect the safe against unauthorized approach or access thereto without actuating the alarm. The controlling switch, indicated at 4:6, may be of anyusual or adapted construction. but I preferably employ a lock-switch of any well-known type adapted to be operated by a key to bring its con-' tacts into and out of circuit, so that its operation is governed by a key in possession of an authorized person and it is thus protected against unauthorized operation to cut out the protective circuit.

In the improved floor-plate protective means, as comprised in my invention and improvements, I also provide a supplementary means for protecting the door of the safe or other receptacle for the storage of valuables against unauthorized opening. said door protective means comprising a hinged door-plate member, -t7. adapted to be ele-I "ated to position extending in front of and across the door and operating upon circuit connections to cause the actuation of the alarm if it 'is moved or returned to normal position or tampered with by drilling or similar conditions of attack. In the preferred construction of said door-plate protective means, the top member 2 of the floorplate protective means is provided with a depression, 48, corresponding to the area of -the door-plate member 47 and located immediately in front of the protected safe. At saiddepression, the plate construction forming the bottom or base portion thereof issubstantially the same as the plate construction constituting the other portions of the top member 2 of the floor-plate protective means, *and the door-plate member 17 is adapted to normally fit in said depression with its top surface flush with the top surface of said member 2. The hinge connection of the door-plate member i7 with the floor-plate member 2 is constituted by an extension of said member 2. as at 19, immedi ately in rear of the depression 48 and projecting over a supplementary deeper depression, 50, in the member 2, which depression is located at the rear edge of the depression 48. Said extension 49 corresponds in its plate construction to the main portion of the member 2, and is connected to said main I wvhich' is connected to the hinge 54, and an under plate, 56 (corresponding to the plate 11), said plates being separated by an inter posed insulating sheet, 57 (corres onding to the sheet 12), and said member 4 has additionally a bottom plate, 58, which is separated from the plate 56 by an insulating. sheet, 59. Said bottom plate 58 is extended,

to connection with said top plate 55, as at 60, and is' of the same positive polarity therewith in circuit. The under or intermediate plate 56 has an extension, 61, at its rear edge, which contacts, as at 62, at all times during the normal or hinge action of the door-plate member 47 with an extension,

63, of the under plate 11 of the extension hinge-portion 49 of the top-plate member 2. Said extension 63 follows a segmental course at the bottom of the supplementary depression 50, to conform to the arc movement of v the rear-edge extension 61 of the plate 56 when the door-plate member 47 is moved upon its hinge, andsaid extension 63 has a free pro ective position to enable a spring action whereby the contact 62 will be eflectively maintained during the movement of the door-plate member 47. Under the circumstances just described, the under or intermediate'plate 56 of the member 47 being at all times in contact with the extension 63 of the plate 11, said plates-56 and 11 are of corresponding negative polarity in circuit.

. 56 Thus, an attempt to drill through the door- 7 plate member 47 when in operative position, with a metallic instrument, will establish circuit connection between the plates 55' 1 and 56 or the plates 58 and 56, and cause the actuation, of the alarm through-the circuit connections hereinbefore described.

The door-plate member 47 has its circuit jconnections, in the preferred and relative arrangement,.through the plates of the floorplate protective means, as above described, and it is operative to govern the conditions of the alarm'circuit, to cause the actuation of the alarm, by action upon circuit constituted by a stud, as at 64, is carried by and in connection with the under plate 11 of the top-plate member 2, at a suitable point beneath the depression 48, which stud is adapted to be engaged by the contact end, 65, of a spring-controlled bolt, 66, .slidably mounted in the space between the members 2 and 1 and projecting through and in contact with the top plate 10 of the member 2 into the supplementary depression 50 at the front wall thereof, as shown at 67. Said contact bolt 66 has its slidable bearing in a block, 68, of fiber or other suitable insulating material,

whereby the bolt is insulated from the plate 11, and said block also forms the socket for the coiled spring, 69, which governs the action of the bolt. Thus, the contact stud 64 and the bolt 66 are of opposite polarity in circuit, and the circuit is open at said contact means when the bolt is held in position against the action of its controlling spring 69. This position of the bolt is maintained by action of the door-plate member 47 when the latter is in upright operative position for the protection of the door of the safe,

by means of an extension, 70, at the rear edge of the member 47, which extension is constitutedby an extension of the insulating sheet 59 between the plates 58 and 56 and an extension of said bottom plate 58. Said extension'70 moves in the supplementary depression 50, in the hinge action of the member 47 and when the latter is raised to vertical position the extension bears upon the end 67.0f the bolt 66 and moves and retains the latter from contact with the contact stud 64. Thus, the alarm circuit is maintained in open condition when the door-plate member 47 is in operative position, and is adapted to operate upon any attack upon the system which' closes the circuit as hereinbefore described, and if the door-plate member 47 is tampered with in an attempt to move it upon its hinge from its upright operative protective position, the pressure upon the bolt 66 is released and its spring control returns it immediately tonormal position with its contact end 65 in' contact with the stud 64, which closes the circuit and causes the actuation of the. alarm. From the foregoing description, it will be understood that any attempt to move the door-plate member 47 from its upright operative position, by the employment of a rod or instrument operated at some distance from the safe and without enteringupon the protected area of approach thereto, will cause the closing of the protective alarm circuit and the consequent actuation of the alarm, independent .of any action of the floor-plate protective means or any attack tacts arranged with relation to the movement of said member 47. .In the preferred construction for this purpose, a contact conupon the latter. Under somecircumstances of installation, the contact stud 64 and the bolt 66 may be insulated from their respective plates 11 and 10 by which they are in circuit. through the plates of the floor plate protective means, and may be arranged in an independent circuit consisting of wires or conductors extending respectively from said stud 64 and bolt 66 to the alarm means and controlled by its own switch, whereby the movement of the door-plate protective member 47 will be independent of any circuit connections with the floor-plate protective means and will not affect the circuit conditions of the latter, as will be readily understood. Under the circumstances just stated, the floor-plate protective means will be at all times in operative open-circuit connection whether the door-plate member 47 is in up or down position, and the control.- ling switch. of the independent circuit for the contact stud 64 and bolt 66 can be operated to hold said circuit open when the doorplate is down and to close the circuit at said switch when the door-plate is up in operative position and the circuit is open at the contact 6465.

It will be understood that the construction and arrangement of the hinged door-plate member herein described and claimed as relatedito thedoor of the safe, may be arranged with relation to the sides or back of the safe, or a plurality of such members may be arranged with relation to both the door and sidesor back, the operative action being the same under'all such conditionsnof positional relation or arrangement.

The operation and advantages of my improved protective system will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. At night, or whenever-it is desired to establish a protected period for the safe, under the circuit conditions of the system as herein shown and described, the door-plate member 47- is elevated to its upright operative position across the closed door of the safe, thus opening the circuit contact 6465,,- and the circuit to the alarm means is then closed at the lock switch 46 .by an authorized person having the key thereto. The alarm circuit to the automatic drop 32 is then open at all the operative contact points of the system and will 'be closed, to cause the actuation of the alarm. in case of any attack by the approach of a .person upon the floor-plate protective means, causing a depression of the top member 2 thereof, or by moving the doorplate member 47 from its upright position, or by an attempt to drill through the floorplate protective means or the door-plate or to insert an instrument in the edge opening between the members 1 and 2 or otherwise tamper with the protective elements of the system. When it is desired to establish a period duringwhich access to the safe is to be permitted without actuating the alarm, in the morning or at any other desired time, the lock switch 46 is first operated to open the protective circuit to the automatic drop 32 and approach to the safe upon the floorplate protective means is then permitted, without actuation of the alarm, and the door-plate member 47 can be turned down to its normal position within the depression 48, the release of the bolt 66 to contact with the stud 64 beingthen permitted without actuation of the alarm. In the conditions just stated, the entire circuit connec tions to the automatic drop 32 are out of electrical operation, the circuit being open at the switch 46, and free access to and use of the safe is permitted until it is again desired to throw the system .into electrically-operative condition for the protection of the safe, by moving the door-plate member 47 to upright position and by operating the lock switch 46 to close the circuit, as above described.

I do not desire to be understood as limit- -ing myself to the detail construction and arrangement of parts and circuits as herein shown and described, as it is manifest that variations and modifications therein may be resorted to, in the adaptation of my invention to varying conditions of use, without departing from the spirit and scope of my inventionv and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variations and -modifications as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An improved electric protective system, comprising a structure to be guarded, a base member extending over the area of approach to the structure to be guarded, a

'top member constituting the floor surface at the area of approach to the structure to be guarded and'arranged above said base member and covering the area thereof, said base and top members each constituting an electrical conductor and being arranged with an intervening space, means for depressibly sustaining said top member, circuit contact means arranged between and in connection with said base and top conductor members and operatable upon depression of the top anember, and an alarm circuit including the conductors constituted by said base and top members.

2. An improved electricprotective system, comprising a structure to be guarded, a base member extending over the area of approach to the structure to be guarded, a top member constituting the floor surface at the area of approach to the structure to be guarded and arranged above said base member and covering the area thereof, said base and top members each constituting an electrical conductor and being arranged with an intervening space, a plurality/of conductor layer III) - members, whereby either depression of the member or drilling thereof will plates being comprised in said top-member and extending over the area thereof and insulated from each other, means for depressibly sustaining said top member, circuit contact means arranged between and in connection with said base and top conductor members and operatable upon depression of the top member, and an alarm circuit including the conductorsconstituted by said base and top members and the layer plates of the top member, whereby depression of the top cause the actuation of the alarm.

8. An improved electric protective system, comprising a structure to be guarded, a base member extending over the area of approach to the structure to be guarded, a top member constituting the floor surface at the area of approach to the structure to be guarded and arranged above said base member and covering the area thereof, said base and top members each constituting an electrical conductor and being arranged with an intervening space, a plurality of conductor layer plates being comprised in the respective structures of both said top and base members and extending over the respective areas thereof and insulated from each other, means for depressibly sustaining said top member, circuit contact means arranged between and in connection with said base and top conductor members and operatable upon depression of the top member, and an alarm circuit'including the conductors constituted by said base and top members and the respective sets of layer plates of both said members, whereby depression of the top member or drilling of either of said members will cause the actuation of the alarm.

4. An improved electric protective system, comprisinga structure to be guarded, a base member extending over the area of approach to the structure to be guarded, a top member constituting the floor surface at the area of approach to the structure to be guarded and arranged above said base member and covering the area thereof, said base and top members each constituting an electrical conductor. and being arranged with an intervening space, means for depressibly sustaining said top'member, circuit contact means arranged between and in connection with said base and top conductor members and operatable upon depressionof the top-membeij, circuit conductors respectively in electrical connection with said base and top conductor members and oppositely disposed with relation to the edge opening between the same, and an alarm circuit including the conductors constituted by said base and top top member or the insertion of a metallic instrument between the circuit conductors at the edge openingwill cause the actuation of the alarm.

5. An improved electric protective system, comprising a structureto be guarded, a base member, a top member constituting the floor surface of the area' of approach to the structure to be guarded and arranged above said base member with an intervening space, said top member and base member respectively comprising layer plates insulated from each other, means for depressibly sustaining said top member, circuit contact means arranged between and in connection with said members and operatable upon depression of the top member, the layer plates of said respective members being extended in opposite relationship at the edge opening between said members, and an alarm circuit including said base and top members and the layer plates of said members, whereby depressionof the top member or drilling of either of said members or the insertion of a metallic instrument between the plate extensions at the'edge opening will causethe actuation of the alarm.

6. An mproved electric protective system, comprising a structure to be guarded, a

base member extendingover the area of ap,

edge openingbetween the same, and an alarm circuit including the conductors constituted by said base and top members, whereby either the depression of the top member or the insertion of a metallic instrument between the circuit conductors at the edge opening willcause the actuation of the alarm.

7. An improved electric protective system, comprising a structure to be guarded, a base.

member extending over the area of approach to the structure to be guarded, a top member constituting the floor surface at the area of.

approach to the structure 'to be, guarded and arranged above said base member and covering the are'athereof, said base and top members each constituting an electrical conductor and being arranged with an intervening space, means for depressibly sustaining said top member, circuit, contact means arranged between and in connection with said base and top conductor members and op--' eratable upon depression of the top member, a plurality of conductor layer plates, being comprised in, one of said members and extending over the area thereof and insulated from each other, an electrical conductor extension lip in electrical connection with one of said layer plates of the layer-plate conductor member and in projecting position with relation to the edge opening between said members, said lip being pliable or depressible in relation to a contact in electrical connection with another of said layer plates of said layer-plate conductor member. and an alarm circuit including the conductors constituted by said base and top members and also the conductors constituted by said layer plates of the layer-plate conductor member, whereby depression of the top member or pressure upon said extension lip at the edge opening or drilling through the layer-plate member will cause the actuation of the alarm.

8. An improved electric protective system, comprising a structure to be guarded, a base member extending over the area of approach to the structure to be guarded, a top member constituting the floor surface at the area of approach to, the structure to be guarded and arranged above said base member and covering the area thereof, said top and base members being arranged with an intervening space, means for depressibly sustaining said top member, a plurality of circuit contact means arranged between said members at points with relation to their protective area of approach to the safe and operatable upon depression of the top member, and an alarm circuit including said circuit contact means.

9. An improved electric protective system, comprising a structure to be guarded, a depressible member constituting an electrical conductor and forming the floor surface at the area of approach to the struc-.

ture to be guarded, a plurality of conductor layer plates being comprised in said depressible member and extending over the area thereof and insulated from each other, circuit contact means concealed by and in connection'with said conductor surface member and operatable upon depression thereof,

' and an alarm circuit including said contact means and also the conductors constituted by said-layer of plates of the conductor surface member, whereby'either depression'of said member or drilling thereof will cause the actuating of the alarm. a

10. "An improved electric protective system, comprising a structure to be guarded,

! superposed and separated members arranged at and extending over the area of approach to the structure to be guarded and coacting by depressible action of the top member, a plurality of conductor layer plates being comprised in one of said members and extending over the area thereof and insulated from each other, said layer-plate member constituting throughout its area an electrical conductor, circuit contact means concealed between said members and opbe guarded and constituting part of the floor area of approach thereto, said member being operatively mounted in connection with the floor base to swing upwardly in relation to thestructure to be guarded 4 and form a wall in front thereof and separate therefrom, circuit contact means comprised in the floor base and operatable when said member is swung downwardly to its normal floor surface position, and an alarm circuit including said circuit contact means.

12. An improved electric protective system, comprising a structure to be guarded, a member independent of the structure to be guarded and constituting part of the floor area of approach thereto, said member being operatively mounted in connection with the floor base to swing upwardly in relation to the structure to be guarded and form a wall in front thereof and separate therefrom, a plurality of conductor layer platesbeing comprised in said floor-surface member and extending over the area thereof and insulated from each other, circuit contact means comprised in the floor base and operatable a member constituting the floor surface at the'area of approach to the structure to be guarded, a member hinged to said surface member and operatable to extend in upright position in relation to the structure to be guarded and form a wall separate therefrom, circuit contact means arranged with relation to the hinged movement of said protective member and operatable upon movement thereof, said circuit contact means being concealed by said surface member, and an alarm circuit including said circuit contact means. 7 v

14. An improved electric protective system, comprising a structure to be guarded, a member constituting the floor surface at the area of approach to the structure to be said surface member and operatable to ex tend in upright position in relation to the structure to be guarded and form a wall separate therefrom, said last-named member embodying layer plates insulated from each other and the respective layer plates thereof being in circuit connection with the respective layer plates of said surface mem v ber, and an alarm circuit including the layer plates of said surface member, whereby a drilling of either of said members will cause the actuation of the alarm.

" 15."An improved electric protective system, comprising a structure to be guarded, a member. constituting the floor surface at the area of approach to the structure to be guarded and embodying layer plates insulated from each other, a member hinged to said surface member and operatable to extend in upright position in relation to the structure to be guarded and form a Wall separate therefrom, said last-named member embodying layer plates insulated from each other and the respective layer plates thereof being in circuit connection v with the respective layer plates of said surface member, circuit contact means: ar-' ranged with. relation to the hinged movement of said protective member and concealed by said surface member and operatableupon movement of said hinged member from its protective position, and an alarm circuit lncluding said circuit contact means and thelaye'r plates of said surface member, whereby movement-of the hinged member or drilling of either of said members will cause the actuation of the alarm.

' 16. An improved electric protective system, comprising a structure torbe guarded, a depressible member constituting the floor surface at'the area of approach to the structure to be guardedand embodying layer plates insulated from each other, a'member hinged to said surface member and operatable to extend in upright position in relation to the structure to be guarded and form a vWall separate therefrom, said last-named member embodying layer plates insulated from each other and the respective ,lay'er plates thereof being in circuit connection with the respective layer plates of said surface member, circuit contact means concealed by said surface member and operatable upon depression thereof, circuit contact means arranged with relation to the hinged movement of said protective member and operatable upon movement thereof, and

h an alarm circuit including said circuit contact means and the layer plates of said surface member, whereby depression of the surface member or movement of the hinged member ordrilling of either of said members will cause the actuation of the alarm.

17. An improved electric protective system, comprising a structure to be guarded, a depressible member constituting the floor surface at the area of approach to the structure to be guarded, circuit contact means concealed by said surface member and operatable upon depression thereof, a member constituting part of the surface area of said i depressible member and operatively mounttem, comprising a structure to be guarded,

a depressible member constituting'the floor surface at the area of approach to the structure to beguarded, and a supplementary member constituting part of the surface area of said depressible member and opera tively mounted in connection therewith to swing upwardly in relation to the structure to be guarded and form a wall in front thereof and separate therefrom, circuit contact means operatable upon either depression of said surface member or movement of said supplementary swinging member, and an alarm circuit including said contact means of both the depressible member and supplementary swinging member.

, In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

JOHN PRITCHARD WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

W. D. HEOHT, TERESA G. LYoNs. 

